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About

“Peter has achieved that most difficult of musical ambitions: that of discovering his own voice as a composer, without sacrificing either sophistication or communicative power”.

~ Robert Davidson, PHD, Head of Composition, University of Queensland.

Peter Walters

Born in Sydney, N.S.W.

Lives at Maleny, Sunshine Coast, Qld
AUSTRALIA

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Peter has worked as a freelance bassist in almost every setting from traditional jazz and blues to contemporary funk and has been tutor of bass studies at QUT since 1992. He has also been a Tutor for the Qld Conservatorium of Music, and teaches bass privately.

International artists I've performed with include:

USA

Johnny Griffin (sax)

Clifford Jordan (sax)

Don Menzer (sax)

Richie Cole (sax)

Sheila Jordan (vocals)

Annie Ross  (vocals)

Vanessa Rubin (vocals)

Napato Miro (vocals)

Pheeroan Aklaff (drums)

 

 

EUROPE

Joachim Kuhn  Germany(pno)

Moncef Genoud Switzerland(pno)

Libor Smoldas Czech Republic (gtr)

Judith Nijland Holland (vocals)

Jason Rebello UK (pno - STING)

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CANADA

Jim Galloway (sax)

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CUBA

Marialy Pacheco (winner

Montreux Solo Piano

Competition 2012.)

 

 

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AUSTRALIA

Tom Baker (sax)

Steve Hicks (sax)

Bob Barnard (trumpet)

Geoff Bull (trumpet)

Warren Daly (trombone)

George Washingmachine (violin)

Ian Date (guitar)

John Sangster (vibes)

Judy Bailey (piano)

Mileham Hayes (clarinet)

Janet Seidel (vocals)

Kerrie Bidell (vocals)

James Morrison (trumpet)

Jim Kelly (guitar)

Dale Barlow (sax)

Tony Hopkins (sax)

Andrew Gander (drums)

Allan Browne (drums)

Allan Turnbull (drums)

Tony Buchanan (sax)

Don Burrows (flute and sax)

Wilbur Wilde (sax)

Johnny Nicole (guitar & vocals)

Barry Humphries (Edna)

VInce Jones (vocals & trumpet)

Wiley Reed (vocals & piano)

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Other highly regarded groups formed or collaborated with include: 
 

  • Bebopera with Tony Hobbs

  • Greg Arthur Quartet with Vince Genova

  • The Chris Young Trio

  • Hothouse (house band I formed for jazz club "The Bass Note”),

  • Mystrel, acoustic jazzgrass band

  • Tulca Mor – Celtic Band

  • Fiddlers Fest - Country music collaboration

  • Hypnosis – My Original Band

  • Into - My Original Band

  • The Ross Nixon Trio

  • Two Brazillion with Jamey Clark

  • The Walter Ego Quintet

  • The James Whiting Quarte

Albums produced  and / or recorded  (with instrumentals) include:

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  • Morning Coffee and Evening Frocks - Leah Cotterell & Bebopera

  • Single: Don't Wanna Be Alone - Strange Life  ** Arranger  Video below

  • Moving Target - Margaret Roadknight

  • Hypnosis  - Hypnosis    * Producer

  • My Home Is In My Heart -  Eva Breckon

  • Capsizes And Writings - David Bentley

  • Lazy Afternoon  - Passionfruit   ** Arranger

  • Months Of Mondays - Peter Walters  *Producer/Composer

  • What Borders? -  Mystrel   *Producer/Composer

  • 911 Suite - Peter Walters  *Producer/Composer

  • Focus On Jazz - Greg Arthur & Vince Genova

  • Denise - Denise Patterson

  • Interpretation - Julian Jones *Producer

  • Straight From The Heart - Wiley Reed  *Producer

  • Snakes And Ladders - Chris Young  *Producer

  • Since I Fell For You - Kristina Kelman

  • Digital Love - The Gypsy Swingers  *Producer

  • Life Raft - Madeleine Paige *Producer

  • Love Me Or Leave Me - Kelsey Giarola  *Producer

  • Red To Blue - Louise Isackson  *Producer

  • One Bright Star - Kristina Kelman   *Producer/Composer

  • A Touch Of Blue - Robyn Brown

  • Here And Now - Andrew Butt

  • Blueberry Ash - Andrew Butt

  • Metamorphosis - Wendy Murray *Producer

  • Moon - Dami Im ( X Factor winner and Eurovision runner up)

  • Baccarach - Rachel Head 

  • Unblinking - Peter Walters & Kristina Kelman (2019) *Producer/Composer

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Full Name: Peter John Walters

Email: walmusic@iinet.net.au

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Academic Qualifications: 

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  • Graduated Senior High School 1975
    St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
     

  • Master of Music  majoring in composition
    (KM42- N464091 GPA 6.2)      2001 – 2004
    Queensland University of Technology,
    Kelvin Grove
     

  • Currently enrolled to commence Ph.D in 2019, Queensland University of Technology
     

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Practical Experience:

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  • Thirty years as a professional improvising guitarist and double and electric bassist, including performing with noted singers and performers (see adjoining list).

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  • Producer and arranger for scores of albums and live  performances (see below), including arranging for Mark Sholtez' 2006 album 'Real Street' which was the first and only Australian artist signed to the prestigious Verve label.

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  • Composer for documentaries for SBS and ABC:
     

    • "Black Soldier Blues” (2004),

    • "World Champion Santa”(2009),

    • “The Trouble With St Mary's”(2011) 

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Performances:

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  • From my early twenties I began playing with groups as diverse as the avant-garde Musikki Oy to rhythm and blues legends Wiley Reed and Phil Manning, and the original rock group Strangelife,

  • Performed and recorded with Tony Hobbs' Big Band Theory

  • Worked in S.E.Asia and Japan and was house bassist and leader of house band 'Hothouse' at  jazz club "The Bassnote"

 

  • Played support to Wynton Marsalis, Trilok Gurtu, Joe Jackson, Joe Satriani, in the mid nineties. 
     

  • Toured with Diana Krall on her 2006 Australian tour.
     

  • I have performed with singers Annie Ross from Lambert, Hendricks and Ross fame, Charlie Parker's favorite bebop singer Sheila Jordan, Australia's great jazz singers Vince Jones and Kerrie Biddell, post bop legendary saxophonists Clifford Jordon, Johnny Griffin and Don Menza, German pianist Joachim Kuhn, Sting's pianist Jason Rebello, James Morrison and Don Burrows and a host of others. (See list for more details)

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Teaching Positions:

        

  • 1992 to present  - Tutor of contemporary and jazz bass:

    •      Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University

    •      Queensland University of Technology, and

    •      University of Central Queensland

    •      JMC, Brisbane

    •      I still teach at tertiary level to this day having              guided hundreds of students to graduation.

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Recording & Composing:

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I have recorded extensively including albums with numerous and diverse artists (see list at left) and have been session bassist for Advertising Studio Suite Sixteen

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I composed the scores for two films:

  • Nice Guy …But

  • Terrain


 and documentaries:

  • Black Soldier Blues

  • World Champion Santa

  • The Trouble with St. Mary's

 

... and wrote and arranged the music for the QTC stage production: 

  • The Family.
     

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Awards:

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1988 - Co winner with band Strange Life for the song
           Don't Wanna Be Alone

           Sonics Big Music Competition.See video below

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2003 -'Best Producer' for the Wiley Reed album

'Straight From The Heart'          
2003 Queensland Sunny Awards.

'Straight From The Heart' garnered three Sunny awards in 2003:

  • Best Male Vocal – Wiley Reed

  • Best Blues Album -'Straight From The Heart'

  • Best Production – Peter Walters

 

Strange Life - Don't Wanna Be Alone

The Lonely Shepherd - Alesa Lajana
featuring Béla Fleck & Peter Walters

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With the Ross Nixon Trio

"Theme To Mr Broadway"

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With the Ross Nixon Trio

"My Shining Hour"

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